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Come Fly The Slut-Shaming Skies
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This post, written by Ann Friedman, originally appeared on Feministing
Southwest Airlines is apparently now telling its female passengers how to dress. Kyla Ebbert was reprimanded and nearly kicked off a flight for daring to wear a tank top, miniskirt, and cardigan. (This picture is of the outfit she was wearing at the time. Scandalous, no? How dare she walk around in 100-degree weather wearing that?!)
They walked out onto the jet bridge, where [flight attendant/fashion policeman] Keith told Ebbert her clothing was inappropriate and asked her to change. She explained she was flying to Tucson for only a few hours and had brought no luggage.
"I asked him what part of my outfit was offensive," she said. "The shirt? The skirt? And he said, 'The whole thing.' "
Keith asked her to go home, change and take a later flight. She refused, citing her appointment. The plane was ready to leave, so Keith relented. He had her pull up her tank top a bit, pull down her skirt a bit, and return to her seat.Guess we know what airline Wendy "Modestly Yours" Shalit is going to be flying from now on!
The San Diego Union-Tribune columnist clearly thinks Ebbert's treatment was unacceptable, but then he throws up his hands:
Who knows where the lines are drawn these days, particularly when it comes to dress? If you watch television, or visit the mall, or take in a game at Petco Park, you'll see women dressed in ways that, 50 years ago, were pornographic. Today they are stylish.
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| Also by Ann Friedman | |||
| Man Rapes Woman As Several Bystanders Watch Ann Friedman: Maybe the rapist was thinking that, because everyone seemed to ignore what was going on, it wasn't really happening. August 27, 2007. |
Wife-Spanking 101: Neither Parody Nor Porn Ann Friedman: What if you wife won't "behave"? Uber-conservative Christian patriarchs everywhere now have a solution! August 24, 2007. |
Billionaire women signal end of inequality! Ann Friedman: Do heiresses prove there's no glass ceiling? March 15, 2007. |
NYT editor says women are bad military history writers Ann Friedman: NY Times Book Review ed. has "Larry Summers" moment. February 23, 2007. |
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